Apheros, a Swiss startup founded in August 2023 and spun out of ETH Zurich, has developed a patented metal foam technology aimed at improving cooling efficiency in data centers.

The company claims that its innovative technology can reduce energy consumption in data centers by 10 to 20 percent by seamlessly integrating with existing cooling systems.

Data centers are critical for digital infrastructure, housing essential servers and networking equipment that support online services, yet they account for nearly 40% of energy consumption.

According to the International Energy Agency, data centers consumed 460 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2022, with projections suggesting this could exceed 1,000 TWh by 2026.

The startup's co-founder and CTO, Gaëlle Andreatta, emphasized the urgent need for efficient cooling solutions due to rising energy demands driven by advancements in artificial intelligence.

Apheros' technology can enhance heat exchange by 90%, significantly reducing energy usage in cooling systems, which are notoriously energy-intensive.

Notably, the cost of the metal foams represents less than 5% of the final price of cooling systems, suggesting that their adoption will not impose a significant financial burden on data center operators.

Recently, Apheros raised $1.85 million in pre-seed funding, which will be used to further develop its metal foam products and advance towards commercial deployment.

The funding will also enable Apheros to expand production, enhance research and development, and market its advanced cooling solutions.

Apheros is specifically targeting the growing thermal management market for liquid cooling, driven by increased demand from high-performance computing and AI.

Founderful's Lukas Weder expressed confidence in Apheros' potential to transform cooling technology and significantly reduce energy consumption in data centers.